Newburgh hard-cider company partners with Mount Saint Mary College

CITY OF NEWBURGH – Hundreds of local businesses are selling hard cider made in the City of Newburgh under a partnership with Mount Saint Mary College.

Kyle Sheerer moved his Graft Cider into a space at 218 Ann St. in November and began brewing several varieties of hard cider using New York apples.

He partnered with the college under the state’s START-UP NY program, which will allow Graft Cider to operate tax-free for 10 years.

Sheerer, who helped his father create Maryland’s Millstone Cellars, is brewing about 5,000 gallons each month and distributing his oak-barrel-aged ciders to roughly 300 bars, restaurants and stores in the Hudson Valley, and businesses in Maryland and Washington, D.C.

His future plans include an onsite cider garden and tasting room.

“The goal is to make that style of cider which is predominantly enjoyed in Europe, and bring it to the masses, both through a lowered price point and more accessible packaging – cans,” Sherrer said.

As part of the partnership with MSMC, students in a genetics class identified the yeast strains being used to ferment Graft’s ciders.

The company is also planning to hire a MSMC student as a summer intern to help grow yeast.

Sheerer’s expected investment is $590,000, and Graft Cider is projected to create four jobs.

“There’s been excellent synergy between the company, the college and our academics,” said Michael O’Keefe, the college’s executive director of operations and risk management.

lsparks@th-record.com

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